February 2009

Yesterday I did not wear a coat and I loved it. There is something about the hint of spring in February that just puts a little bounce in my step. I am hoping this trend continues next week since my husband is traveling and I am clueless about how to drive the tractor/snowplow. If I have to deal with it, it will resemble some episode of "I Love Lucy." I am sure the lawn will be plowed well and I will be dodging the trees!

I love so many of the titles that we are featuring this month that I am not sure which I want you to read first. I have a line that I use with friends that is "Just read this book." My friend Cathy gets this a lot. She flies...a lot. More than me. She goes to Europe and Asia like I drive to New York. Thus, when I hand her a book, I know I need to keep her entertained for a 6-8 hour flight. It's endless fun going down my shelves trying to pick what she "has" to read now. Last week we were traveling together, something that rarely happens. She woke earlier than me and started reading Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. By the time I was opening my eyes two hours later she was well into the story, which I loved since we then could talk about it. It confirmed my making it one of my Bookreporter.com Bets On selections. By the way, Jamie Ford has some terrific videos that were shot and enhance the story that you can see here.

Linda Fairstein's Lethal Legacy is set in the New York Public Library. Once you close this one, you will never walk past the lions (named Patience and Fortitude) and look at that building the same way again. I was lucky enough to tour the library on a private tour years ago and saw some amazingly special rare books. Linda gives readers that same experience, and there is a video on her website, www.LindaFairstein.com, that will get readers inside as well.

Kathryn Stockett's The Help is going to be my latest Bets On selection this week. As I told you last month, I was so caught up in this book over the holidays that I needed to retreat to my room to finish it at one point. There's a podcast interview with Kathryn (I love that spelling by the way; it's my middle name) that you can listen to here that will give you more insight into why this story tugged at her to be written.

We've got soooo many wonderful titles in this lineup that I really could go on and on. My thought for the week: go down the list and just pick one that strikes your fancy and read it. All are endlessly discussion worthy and could make your group meeting lively.

For the record, I have decided that the news on television all seems to be the same story on rewind. And I am a tad bored with the continuous commentary that goes something like this: If you leave your house and buy anything, you are not smart and will end up on a breadline. I am here to share that buying one book this weekend is not going to crumble your economic future, so head to the store and indulge yourself with a book. Maybe even buy two. Then if you feel a continued need to shop once you leave the bookstore, go see Confessions of a Shopaholic. I have not seen this movie yet, but I figure the scene where Becky has her credit card frozen in her freezer will be one that will make the news commentators froth with glee. And when you see all those designer names flashed across the screen, you can reminisce the consumerism that is part of the reason we are where we are now. Consider it a history lesson. 

Last month we started a Facebook fan page for ReadingGroupGuides.com; thanks to all of you who "friended us." I do feel about 16 when I say that! We also are creating community areas on Good Reads, Shelfari and Library Thing over the next few weeks. Each of these social networking sites will have content that relates to book clubs and ReadingGroupGuides.com, and we hope to meet more groups and hear more bookish ideas as we explore these areas further. More to come on this in the weeks and months to come.

Also, later this month we are planning a Reader Survey, our first since 2001. Clearly, a lot has changed since then and we look forward to your participation in this survey where we have a few fun ideas of giveaways to encourage you to do just that. Keep your eye on your mailboxes for this in the next couple of weeks.

One more thing....we are celebrating the release of Very Valentine --- the first novel in Adriana Trigiani’s new trilogy (I love Valentine!) --- with a special contest. One lucky reader will have the opportunity to win a finished copy of Very Valentine, which is now in stores, as well as a Very Valentine poster signed by Adriana with a flourishing signature that bears all her enthusiasm. Click here for the contest details. Read more about Very Valentine here.

Speaking of Valentine's Day, Very Valentine is also one of the featured titles in Bookreporter.com’s Fourth Annual Valentine’s Day Feature. Here's wishing you hearts, flowers, something deliciously red or chocolate...and time to indulge in a book you love!

Carol Fitzgerald ([email protected])